Texas Teen Battling Cancer Shot and Killed During Robbery

HOUSTON, Texas — A Duncanville teenager, who lost his mother seven years ago and has been battling cancer for two months, was killed over the weekend after being shot in the back during an apparent robbery. The 15-year-old Ryan Lara was moving his parents car from the street into the driveway when his parents heard gunshots. He was transported to a Dallas hospital where he later died from his injuries.

At about 11:30 p.m. Ryan Lara went outside his home to move a car belonging to his parents into the driveway according to an article posted on MyFoxDFW. The Duncanville student appears to have been approached by someone attempting to rob him. That person then opened fire hitting Lara in the back. Three shots were fired.

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Family members rushed out of the house and noticed a small 4-door car, gray or silver in color, speeding away. Ryan’s older brother Brandon pulled out his own gun and fired at the blacked out fleeing vehicle. It is not known if he struck the car with any of his shots.

“I ran out, stepped over him and proceeded to pull out my pistol with my left hand and started firing at the vehicle with no headlights or no lights on,” said Brandon.

Ryan was a seventh grader at Byrd Middle School in Duncanville according to a Dallas Morning News article by Julie Fancher. He was transported to Methodist Dallas Medical Center where he died from his wounds. Ryan was held back for one school year after his mother passed away seven years ago.

A spokesperson for Duncanville ISD, Lari Barager said the school district would be providing counselors for students at Ryan’s school and two other schools where his siblings attend.

The MyFoxDFW report stated that Ryan had been diagnosed with Lymphoma about two months ago when a lump was discovered in his chest that would not go away. The lump was removed and he had begun chemotherapy. “The doctors said he was doing well,” Ryan’s brother Brandon said.

Police do not know how many people are involved in this shooting at this time.

“He didn’t deserve this and I just hope whoever killed him…what’s done in the dark is soon going to come to the light,” said Brandon.

A $5,000 reward has been offered by Crime Stoppers for the arrest and indictment of the person or persons involved in this murder. Any information should be forwarded to Detective Jeff Pollock at 972-780-5000 ext. 1103 or to Crime Stoppers at 1-877-373-8477.

Bob Price is a staff writer and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.